Support for Uncle Paul Towney and his effort to reclaim illegally granted Wiradjuri Land and his ongoing fight to have Wiradjuri Sovereignty recognised.
After being arrested in February 2025 for re-occupying the lands with his mob, Paul took the charges of "trespass" and "property damage" into a legal battle to contest not only that Wiradjuri sovereignty over the land had never been ceded, but that the land grants handed out by Governor Brisbane in 1823/24 were illegal, due to them being over the agreed 200-acre limit set by the Crown at the time.
His most recent hearing self representing at orange local court on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, Paul refused to sign the amended fact sheet from the police prosecutor. Both charges were dismissed and now he aims to get the case taken to Federal Court to follow the precedent set in 2024 by the Federal Court case, Dungog Shire Council versus Attorney General of NSW.
As a Sovereign man of the Wiradjuri Nation he is attempting to do the opposite of what Koiki Mabo did in his famous case, rather than provide evidence of his and Wiradjuri Peoples traditional ownership of a 2000-acre property taken by Charles Sturt University in Orange, he is demanding the Crown provide evidence of it being ceded, in writing.
Since this outcome, Paul and his supporters have had a presence out the front of the Federal Court of Australia on Gadigal land in Sydney, putting pressure on the institution and starting the process of actualising his case and is hoping to be seen by early 2026.
In 2024 Paul retraced the 400km journey undertaken by the Wiradjuri People in 1824 to the house of Governor Brisbane to stand in the face of injustice and demand an end to the killing of their people. Lead by Windradyne, the most revered Wiradjuri Warrior documented by the Crown, who inspires Pauls action today.
From 08/12/25 - 12/12/25 Paul, other local mob, as well as supporters of First Nations sovereignty from across the continent will be hosting a series of camps and events focused on Corroboree and Education following the trails from Wiradjuri country, starting at the Windradyne's resting site near Bathurst. We will travel through Wiradjuri and Gundungurra country, then Darug, Bidgigal and Dharawal lands to converge on the lawns of the old governors house (Paramatta) in a display of culture and resistance to the crown.
We will be using funds to hire buses and equipment, cater, promote events and subsidise travel and accommodation for elders.
Organizer
